Elange eor bull wheels



1,626,322 Aprll 26, 1 G. F. BELL FLANGE FOR BULL WHEELS Filed March 24. 1926 gwucntoz Quezon;

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Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

GEORGE FRANCIS BELL, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

FLANGE FOR BULL WHEELS.

Application filed March 24, 1926. Serial No. 97,045.

This invention relates to improvements in flanges for bull wheel shafts shown and described in my prior Patent #1,498,228.

One of the main objects of the present a invention is to modify the adjacent or inner faces of the flange members in such a manner as to eliminate the possibility of the wire line hitting the edge of the flange on changing coils While running in the tools at full speed.

Another object resides in a modification of the guide-way in one of the flanges to permit a more perfect feeding of the cable and to arrange in conjunction therewith filler blocks on the shaft which provide a flush surface for the cable in travelling from one side of the flange to the other.

1 Other features will more clearly hereinafter appear by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views; in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the device assembled for operation;

. Figure 2 is an end view showing the outer or groove flange assembled on a shaft;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same flange; and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of same.

Referring now to Figure 1, in the present illustration a bull wheel shaft 1 is shown provided with the usual brake wheel 2, reserve cable supply 3, flange spacer 5, flange 6, tug wheel 7, and cable 8, the latter being a continuation of the cable from the reserve spool.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that the flange includes two sections, each of semi-circular form; each section includes the hub portion 9 and 10, and the radiating flanges 11 and 12. The flange sections are made of cast metal and their rigidity and strength is materially increased by the arrangement of webs 14; which radiate from the hub portions 9 and 10 outwardly, and gradually taper in width towards the peripheryof the flange assembly. At points where the web structure of the flange is such as to interfere with the provisions of full-length webs, shorter webs are provided as clearly illustrated in the drawings. The weight of the structure is materially reduced by casting the flange sections at such points as maybe practical with slots or elongated perforations. The fastening means in the present device is substantially identical with that shown in my former patent, heretofore mentioned, and includes elongated bolts 15 extending through enlarged tubular portions 16 provided to register on opposite sides of each flange section.

In the present arrangement the groove or guide-way in the upper section 9 which is designed to transfer the cable from the re serve supply to the main spool extends substantially the full circumferential distance of the hub section and diagonally across the latter, the cable 8 entering the groove at point 17, which is practically flush with the lower face of the upper section and passes out at 18 onto the shaft at the opposite side of the flange. I11 order to obtain a line of travel for the cable from one side of the flange to the other, the width of'the hub portion of the upper section of the flange is materially widened and the groove extends diagonally across same beginning at a point adjacent to the outer edge of the hub. By increasing the width of this hub portion, a continuous passage ofthe cable is obtained substantially without bending, kinking or twisting the line at any point. In order that the cable upon its entry into the groove at 17 will travel over a substantially flush surface, a filler structure 19 is provided between the upwardly extending flange 20 and the adjacent member. This filler structure 19 may be built up of suitable wooden pieces or may be in the form of a sheet metal drum, suitably positioned on the shaft. Such a sheet metal drum would preferably be sectional and secured together by properly constructed flanges, through which the bolts should extend. As an alternative in the event that a pipe shaft is utilized, such a shaft could be cast or otherwise constructed with a seat in which the hub of the flanges could be positioned and retained by proper fastening means.

From the foregoing, itwill be seen that various modifications could be made in the details of construction of the flange and in the adjacent elements, whereby the proper feeding of the cable is obtained without injury or interference, and with this in mind attention is directed to the fact that the arrangement of the crossing groove is such as to be absolutely free from contact with any bolts or similar elements, and the cable in its travel is kept at substantially the same radius as the shaft.

Referring again to the groove or guideway in the upper section 9, the contacting surface 9 over which the cable travels will be seen to be of substantially the same distance from the shaft throughout its entirety except at points of entrance and egress where it may be found necessary and advisable to. slightly taper the immediate wall portions to facilitate the travel of the cable.

Referring now to Figure l, attention is directed to the sectional flange 2 2 which forms the end of the spool adjacent the tug wheel 7, and which co -operates with the flange 6 to position and feed the cable. This flange 22 and the flange (3 are both provided with convex adjacent faces which provides a taper of sbstantial'ly one inch for each flange. This assembly obviously pro vides an increase in width between the flanges of approximately two inches which is gradually distributed from the point of flange contact with the shaft and the outer peripheral edge. This variation or outward tapering of the adjacent flange faces is provided in order to free the wire line from contacting with the edges of the flange on changing coils While running in the tools at full speed.

It maybe found necessary or advisable in some instances to construct the flanges of more than two sections and such an arrange ment could readily be provided by causing the groove to travel through two or more of the sections or possibly to shorten the length of'the groove by increasing the angle. Also the flanges may be utilized in connection with liners of the general character shown inmy prior patent whereby a flange designed for one diameter shaft can be adapted to a shaft of smaller diameter.

Other changes and modifications may be madeto facilitate the movement of the cable orthe application of the device to various types of shaft constructions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a shaft, a cable to be coiled on said shaft, spaced flanges mounted on said shaft, one of said flanges being formed with a guideway for said cable, said guideway extendingfroin one side of said flange to the other and its bottom surface being spaced from said shaft an equal distance substantially throughout its entire length.

2. In a device of the class described including in combination, a shaft, a cable, spaced. flanges arranged on said shaft having convex inner faces, and guide means for ranged in close proximity to, and spaced from said shaft an equal distance substantially throughout its entire length.

3. In a device of the class described including in combination, a shaft, a cable,

spaced flanges arranged on said shaft having outwardly receding inner faces, and guide means for said cable extending from one side of one of said flanges to the other, said guide means including a groove having its bottom surface arranged in close proximity to, zmd spaced from said shaft a substantially equal distance throughout sub: stantially its entire length.

l. In a device of the class: described, including in combination, a shaft, a cable, spaced flanges arranged on said shaft and having convex inner faces, and guide means for said. cable formed integral with one of said flanges, said guide means including a groove for the cable extending substantially an equal distance from the axis of said sha ft throughout substantially its entire length.

5. In a guide flange for a shaft, a plurality of sections, each section including a hub portion, one of said flanges havinga passageway extending diagonally through the same, the bottom surface of the passageway being formed by the hub portion of that section and lying in close proximity to the inner surface of the last mentioned hub portion.

6. A flangefor a shaft comprising a plurality of sections, means for securing said sections together, one of said sections formed with a passageway terminatingat opposite sides of the flange, each of the flange sections being provided with a hub portion, and the section formed with the passageway having its hub portion extendiing beyond the adjacent hub portion, the bottom surfaceof the passageway being.

formed by one of said hub portions andbeing substantially concentric with the inner surface of the last mentioned hub portion.

7. lln adevice of the class described, a shaft, a cable, spaced flanges arranged on said shaft formed with convex adjacent faces and guide means for said cableextending from one side of one of said flangesto the adjacent side of said flange and being spaced substantially equi-distant from the axis of said shaft throughout its entire length.

8. In a sectional. guide flange including a plurality of hub portions, a cable passage formed through one of said guide flange sections, the hub portion of said, flange section formed with said cable passage, forming thebottom of said passage and extending beyond the other hub sections and one end of said passage terminating outward of the adjacent hub portion, and means for securing the sections together.

9. In a flange assembly including a ring formed of a plurality of sections adapted to surround a shaft, a hub for said flange assembly, a passageway extending diagonally through the flange assembly and having a bottom surface formed by the hub, said bottom surface being arranged in close proximity to the inner surface of the hub and being substantially concentric with said inner surface, to permit a cable to extend through the passageway Without kinking the cable, and means for securing said flange sections together.

10. In a device of the class described including in combination, a shaft, a cable, spaced flanges arranged on said shaft, one of said flanges being formed with a hub portion extending laterally to one side of said flange, a casing for said shaft arranged adjacent to said hub, a cable passage extending through one of said flanges, said cable passage having a bottom surface formed by said hub portion and arranged substantially parallel and in close proximity to the inner surface of the hub portion and fastening means for positioning said flanges.

11. The substance of claim 10 characterized in that the flanges are sectional and the casing for the shaft which abuts against the hub portion of one of said flanges positions such flange with relation to the other elements. I

12. The substance of claim 10 character ized in that the flange adjacent the shaft casing is formed with the cable passage which terminates at one end substantially flush with the casing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

. GEORGE FRANCIS BELL. 

